提高对老年人感染艾滋病毒的认识

在过去的17年中, the proportion of people living with HIV age 50 and older has more than doubled—jumping from 29% in 2005 to nearly 70% in 2022. 人口的急剧增长, resulting from both treatment advances and new HIV infections, energizes the need for more data on these individuals, 韦斯特研究助理玛格丽特·邓恩说, M.Sc.

In commemoration of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, on September 18, 2022, Ms. Dunne explains why now is the time for more research to identify the specific needs of adults aged 50 years and older to better understand the relationship between HIV and aging.

Q: What are some concerns associated with HIV and aging adults?

A: People aged 50 and older can contract HIV in the same ways that younger individuals can. Some older individuals may not use condoms during sexual activity as often if they are not concerned about pregnancy. 也, older adults may view symptoms of HIV as the consequences of normal aging and are less likely to get tested, 还有一些医疗服务提供者, not viewing older adults as being at risk for HIV, 可以不测试一下吗. This results in older individuals getting diagnosed with HIV at later stages, increasing the likelihood of progression to AIDS.

Q: What are the most common comorbidities and causes of death among people living with HIV?

A: Cardiovascular disease and declining physical function are the most common conditions, 与未感染艾滋病毒的成年人相匹配. 然而, adults with HIV first experience these comorbidities about 5-10 years earlier than adults without HIV.

问:COVID-19如何影响这一人群?

A: COVID-19 has impacted people living with HIV both in terms of access to care for HIV and COVID-19 outcomes. 我们都知道, a high proportion of people living with HIV are over 50, and older individuals are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. 除了, people who are not on treatment or who have an unsuppressed HIV viral load are at especially high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.

Q: What therapies are available for people living with HIV?

A: Today, there are 30+ therapies available for the treatment of HIV. 趣赢平台 conducted a clinical trial for one therapy—a drug that blocks HIV from infecting certain immune cells while preserving normal immunological functions, and it was targeted for people infected with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 who had run out of treatment options. 这种疗法给病人带来了新的希望.

Q: How does 趣赢平台 envision addressing the needs of older people living with HIV?

A: 趣赢平台 is well positioned to address the needs of older people living with HIV due to extensive experience conducting epidemiologic studies among aging populations. 趣赢平台 manages the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span Study, the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, 和考察多样性, 招聘, 衰老和记忆的研究. 参与这些项目, combined with our recent work on COVID-19 in diverse populations, prepares us well to apply our experience to address the needs of older people living with HIV.

了解更多: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (PDF)